Sarah J. Livingston at a glance
- Current role
- Magistrate
- Jurisdiction
- Iowa · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Sarah J. Livingston
Magistrate · Iowa Judicial District 2 District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Magistrate for District 2B in the Iowa Judicial Branch, a position she assumed on December 7, 2020, succeeding former Magistrate Judge William Thatcher
- Magistrate judge in Iowa Judicial District 2, appointed in December 2020, with a background in both prosecution and private legal practice, now focusing on family law mediation
- 2019–2020: Partner, Thatcher & Livingston
- 2016–2019: Partner, Thatcher, Tofilon & Livingston
- Partner, Bennett Law Firm (2009–2016)
- Assistant County Attorney, Webster County (2004–2009)
- Assistant Public Defender, Story County (2003–2004)
- Assistant County Attorney, Story County (1999–2003)
Education
Additional information
- Webster County resident since 2004 and a native of Gladbrook, Tama County.
- focusing on divorce, custody, support, and property division matters
- She also maintains a private practice in family law mediation through Livingston Mediation Services
- She has experience in both criminal prosecution and defense, and her appointment was notable as Webster County’s first female magistrate.
- She has expressed a desire to contribute to Iowa’s judicial legacy by balancing community service with protecting individual rights
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Iowa prohibits broadcasting, recording, photographing, texting, blogging, or tweeting real-time courtroom coverage unless the presiding judicial officer permits it in advance.
prohibited unless the presiding judicial officer expressly permits coverage in advanceIowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage ↗
Presiding Judge Discretion
Statewide
Iowa's expanded news media coverage framework requires approval, but the judge should allow coverage unless it would materially interfere with protected interests or the proceeding.
The judge shall allow expanded news media coverage unless the judge concludesIowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage ↗
Electronic Devices For Media
Statewide
Iowa Chapter 25 requires approval before using electronic devices for photography, video recording, audio recording, or streaming video in a courtroom.
Electronic devices for photography, video recording, audio recording, or streaming video may not be usedChapter 25 Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, official September 30, 2026 collection
Iowa Judicial District 2 District Court
Civil proceedings in Iowa District Courts; specialized proceedings and statutory exceptions remain applicable. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
Iowa Judicial Branch official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Iowa Judicial Branch official judicial roster ↗Iowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Iowa Judicial Branch: Expanded News Media Coverage ↗Chapter 25 Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Chapter 25 Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage ↗